Open-faced rack



S. S. SCHIFFER OPEN-FACED RACK Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Das. 26, 1950 Patented Oct. 1 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPEN-FACED BACK Samuel S. Schiffer, New York, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1950, Serial N0. 202,726

1 Claim. l

The instant invention relates 1:0 book, magazine and paper racks and more particularly t such a rack in which the items supported tend to assume a stable position.

One cf the primary objects of the invention is the construction cf a rack of the character indicated embodying in various modifications a basic unit er trough having three sides, each of which sides in operative position is disposed at an angle to both the vertical and the horizontal.

Yet another aim of the invention is the formation of a rack or tray of the type above referred' to which Will serve to support items filed in a manner to inhibit falling down or curling up 0f same; which in the case cf books, magazines and the like will permit removal or replacement cf abutting items without disarranging the remainder and which will further support the books 01' magazines so that the titles cf same are readily visible.

Still a further purpose is to proviole a rack Which is simple in construction; which may be made als relatively small cost and in which the principle cf the invention may be ernloodied in several distinctive forms.

The above and other aims and objects Will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction With the appended drawings forming a part hereof to which attenti0n is directed and. in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view cf the magazine 01' book rack emboolying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view looking to the left in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view cf the rack of Figs. 1 and. 2 sh0wing magazines and the like supported in operative position thereon;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification comprising a multiple rack unit serving as filing cells for letters, pamphlets o1 the like;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a further modification in the form of a stand f0r a te1ephone and telephone directories; and

Fig. 6 is a sid.e elevational view of the stand of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the rack R includes a trough or tray T :omprising a rear or back Wall II], a base or bott0m Wall II, and a lateral, end or sicle Wall I2, resulting in abasic unit, which, in this instance is open at its forward and right hand. sides. The three Wall sections are connected. one to the other, in any couventicnal manner, and each Wall extends in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the other two wall sections, thus forming the corner I3.

Tray T has a supporting frame F which, as shown, takes the form of a unitary metal strap er the 1ike I4, having a short downwardly curved leg I5, a long straight portion I6, a tall U-shaped leg section I! and a short'section I8. Straight portion I6 is secured to the under face I9 cf bottom Wall II as by screws, rivets or the like 20; similar fastenings 2I being used to attach short strap section I8 to the real face cf back Wall II). It Will now be seen that the points cf support for the tray T are (a) corner I3; (b) short leg I5; anol (c) tall U-shaped leg I'I. Consequently, each of Walls II], II, and I2, is, when resting on a horizontal surface such as a fioor, table er the like, angularly disposed to both the horizontal anti vertical.

Turning now to Fig. 3 the advantages cf the structure so far described Will be apparent. A group cf magazines, books or the like M, will tencl to assume the position shown due to the inclination the rear, as well as inclination to the left of bottom wall II on which the articles rest. If an intermecliate one of the magazines or books is removed, the others are not disarranged; also the titles Will be clearly visible with free access to same while supported in a neat stack.

In the modificzation of Fig. 4, a unit U having multiple cells e is illustrated anal embodies the same inventive concept as heretofore described. This unit comprises a plurality of spacecl parallal side walls 22, 22a, 22b 220, each of which has' a bottom edge as at 23 which, in operative position, rests 011 a table, desk or the like. 'I'he reference characters 2I, 2Ia 2Ib 2Ic represent bottom Walls secured to the adjacent side Walls 22, 22a, 22b, 220, preferably by means cf flanges, such as 22'. Finally, there is a unitary rear o1 back Wall 20 secured to and common to all the side and bottom walls.

As Will readily be Seen, the bottom Walls 2I, 2Ia, 2Ib, etc. are in staggered relation to one another and. each is inclined both rearwardly toward s the common back Wall 20 and to the left toward a side Wall 22, 22a, 22b, etc. The multiple unit U thus forrned finds application as a sorting or filing rack in which the ce1ls c may receive and support papers, pamphlets, er the like with the same advantages inherent in the showing of Figs. 1 2 and 3. The material used in forming this unit may be plastic in sheet form, in addition to other conventional materials; am] it Will be understood that the number of cells may be increased to any desirecl number by merely multiplying the side and bottom Walls and enlarging the back Wall 20.

Figur.es 5 and 6 show a telephone stand S which may take any conventional shape and is providecl with a tower portion 30 upon which a telephone may rest. A tray T having the structural features of the tra.y T of Figs. 1 2 and 3 is bui1t into he stand and supported in a manner similar to the latr so tha.t te1ephone directories anal the like will assume the position of magazines M of the forementioned three figures With the advantages thereofi From the above 117 will nw be apparent that the objects and purposes of the invention have been attained, and 113 might be pointec1 out that it is not necessary that walls I0, II and I2, and the corresponding members in the other views be at right angles to each other, as smal1 angular Variation Will not defeat the basic inventive concept. Various changes will be apparent w those skil1ed in the a.rt and it is contemplated 190 cover all such and 130 be limited in this respect onl'y a.s may be necessary by the scope of the claim hereto appended.

What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

An open-faced ra;ck for papers or the like comprising a back wall, a plurality ofspacedl parallel References Cited in the fi1e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 418,310 Gott Des. 31, 1889 867,684 Thomas Oct. 8, 1907 1155763 Shirley Ost. 5, 1915 1,46'7357 Davies Sept. 1l 1923 1545994 Anderson July 14, 1925 1866117 Logan July 5, 1932 1966555 Le Febure July 17 1934- 2365836 Partridge Dec. 26 1944 

